After a last-gasp defeat to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs last Sunday, the nib Newcastle Knights are back at home this weekend.
It's a relatively short turnaround and the Broncos are coming off a bye, so recovery will be crucial for the Novocastrians.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v BRISBANE BRONCOS
Date: Saturday July 15
Gates open: 1pm
Kick-off: 5.30pm
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 46
Knights: 13
Broncos: 32
Drawn: 1
SQUADS
Newcastle
1. Nathan Ross, 2. Chanel Mata’utia, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Peter Mata’utia, 5. Brendan Elliot, 6. Brock Lamb, 7. Trent Hodkinson, 8. Daniel Saifiti, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Josh King, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 13. Mitch Barnett. Interchange: 14. Jamie Buhrer, 15. Luke Yates, 16. Joe Wardle, 17. Jacob Saifiti, 18. Sam Stone, 19. Jacob Gagan, 20. Tyler Randell, 21. Mickey Paea.
Brisbane
1. Jordan Kahu, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. James Roberts, 4. Tautau Moga, 5. Jonus Pearson, 6. Benji Marshall, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Korbin Sims, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Adam Blair, 11. Sam Thaiday, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Josh McGuire. Interchange: 14. Alex Glenn, 15. Tevita Pangai, 16. Joe Ofahengaue, 17. Kodi Nikorima, 18. Salesi Funaki, 19. Jai Arrow, 20. Jaydn Su’a, 21. Anthony Milford, 22. Marion Seve.
TALKING POINTS
Age is no barrier
After last weekend’s heartbreaking loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Nathan Ross tweeted that the oldest player in the red and blues’ starting forward pack was 23.
This week it will be the same, as the Knights come up against some more experienced forwards.
Broncos prop Adam Blair is 31, while back rowers Sam Thaiday and Matt Gillett are 32 and 28 respectively.
Mitch Barnett says age is no excuse though, and it was errors that resulted in a loss against the Bulldogs.
“We played well enough to win on the weekend, there were just a couple of us that made some dumb errors at crucial stages,” Barnett explained.
“We will take some tough lessons out of that game.”
